HOW TO SPOT A SCAM!!!
Scam letters and emails will look
professional and seem convincing and
cold callers will sound genuine.
If you're offered something that seems too good to be true, before you respond, stop and consider:
Was the offer unsolicited?
How can I have won a competition or lottery that I haven't entered?
Did the offer come from overseas?
Why do I have to respond immediately - what's the rush?
Do I have to make a purchase or send money to win a prize?
Do I have to give my bank or credit card details?
Why would my bank ask me to confirm my account details to them?
Do I have to send money to a PO Box number?
Why am I being asked to keep it confidential?
Can I afford to lose the money?
Action you can take to tackle scams
You can:
get advice and report issues to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service or tel: 0808 223 1133
report scams and suspected scams to Action Fraud or tel: 0300 123 2040
send potential postal scams with a covering letter to Royal Mail at FREEPOST Scam Mail, email:
scam.mail@royalmail.com or tel: 03456 113 413
report unsolicited marketing calls to the Information Commissioner's Office or tel: 0303 123 1113
to stop sales call from UK based businesses to landlines and mobile phones register free of charge with the
Telephone Preference Service or tel: 0345 070 0707
the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is free and can help reduce unsolicited mail, tel: 0845 703 4599
Age UK has information on avoiding all types of scams
tell a trusted friend, relative or neighbour
Scam letters and emails will look
professional and seem convincing and
cold callers will sound genuine.
If you're offered something that seems too good to be true, before you respond, stop and consider:
Was the offer unsolicited?
How can I have won a competition or lottery that I haven't entered?
Did the offer come from overseas?
Why do I have to respond immediately - what's the rush?
Do I have to make a purchase or send money to win a prize?
Do I have to give my bank or credit card details?
Why would my bank ask me to confirm my account details to them?
Do I have to send money to a PO Box number?
Why am I being asked to keep it confidential?
Can I afford to lose the money?
Action you can take to tackle scams
You can:
get advice and report issues to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service or tel: 0808 223 1133
report scams and suspected scams to Action Fraud or tel: 0300 123 2040
send potential postal scams with a covering letter to Royal Mail at FREEPOST Scam Mail, email:
scam.mail@royalmail.com or tel: 03456 113 413
report unsolicited marketing calls to the Information Commissioner's Office or tel: 0303 123 1113
to stop sales call from UK based businesses to landlines and mobile phones register free of charge with the
Telephone Preference Service or tel: 0345 070 0707
the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is free and can help reduce unsolicited mail, tel: 0845 703 4599
Age UK has information on avoiding all types of scams
tell a trusted friend, relative or neighbour